The leadership of Virgil van Dijk has been called into question this season - but Rio Ferdinand doesn't think the Liverpool star has ever been someone who has 'worn the armband'.
Van Dijk, who is captain of the Netherlands and has often filled in for that role with the Reds since arriving from Southampton in 2018, has been criticised by Dutch legends for his perceived lack of leadership.
Former Manchester United star Ferdinand has defended the Liverpool centre-back, even though he doesn't think leadership is one of Van Dijk's strongest attributes after the Reds fell to a 4-1 loss at Manchester City.
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Ferdinand said in the BT Sport studio after Liverpool's loss at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon: "I’m not sure about [criticism of] his leadership skills, he’s never really been one who’s worn the armband in this team, there’s always been people ahead of him so that’s probably not his strongest attribute if you’re looking at who wears the armband.
"How do we know that? We’re not on the pitch. Virgil van Dijk, is he someone who communicates enough, or is it loud enough, or what he says, is it right? Only Liverpool players could tell us that.
"When you look at them there when they were flying no one questioned him as a leader or a talker, I think it’s more important to look at decisions that are being made on the pitch as a footballer.
"It’s about decision-making, and at the highest level players make the better decisions to impact the game. On today’s performance he could have done a better job but at the same time you’re playing against a City team in great form today, they ask you questions and if you can’t answer immediately you get punished."
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